Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Well, we need to find that secret door if we're going to head off Nualia before she can implement her evil plan," Jessa tells everyone, "Maybe we should bring this one with us? If we find the secret door on our own, we have no need of him. And, if we don't, then we make sure he shows it to us. After that, well...we'll figure that out as we go. Ready to move on, everybody?"
Gyorgy Elberion |
"Well, we need to find that secret door if we're going to head off Nualia before she can implement her evil plan," Jessa tells everyone, "Maybe we should bring this one with us? If we find the secret door on our own, we have no need of him. And, if we don't, then we make sure he shows it to us. After that, well...we'll figure that out as we go. Ready to move on, everybody?"
I nod my assent: "Sounds like a plan."
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Just as long as you don't stick me in my own cells," says the goblin cleverly.
Jessa files away that idea and gives Gyorgy a look that suggests they may just do that once the goblin helps them find the secret door.
"So...what you're saying," she turns to their captive, "Is you'd rather help us find this secret door rather than languish here in one of your own cells?"
Gyorgy Elberion |
"Just as long as you don't stick me in my own cells," says the goblin cleverly.
I raise my eyebrow in response to Jessa's look.
Thinking to myself: why did the little grotbag feed us that idea, huh?
"Right then, now that he's disarmed and in Mitnal's capable hands maybe the goblin can lead us to this hidden door." I look right at him as I continue: "It might even be a good idea to have him open the door and lead the way in."
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Bind his hands then," Jessa agrees, "And lets go back to the room he described to see if we can find this hidden door."
As she makes ready to leave, she passes close to Eugen and Kenzo and speaking low enough that the goblin won't hear. "Make sure you keep an eye on him. He seems a bit brighter...and thus, more dangerous...than the others. If we keep him ahead of us as Gyorgy suggests, make sure you're ready to kill him if he attempts to escape or give us away. Watch him like a hawk..."
DM Wicht |
Once back in the room where Lyrie was taken prisoner and the bugbear was killed, the goblin stares for a moment at the dead body of the larger goblinoid and then with a bit of a shrug he points to the wall across from the door and says, "There, you find it on that wall."
There does seem to be evidence on the floor, once you know to look, of scratches that might well indicate the presence of a pivoting stone door.
Blackwing, Jessa's Familiar |
Psst. Take 20!
Blackwing also flutters over to peer past Gyorgy at the door. Certainly a rogue at heart, the bird attempts to assist him however much he can.
Aid another Perception check for Blackwing (assuming it's possible)... 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
EDIT: Holy cow! Just let the bird do the search!
DM Wicht |
Blackwing doesn't understand why the rest of them can't see the obvious door. If the bird had hands it would be able to pull the hidden stone latch itself but, prodded by the flapping and squawks of the familiar, gyorgy manages to pull the lever. Meanwhile Gyorgy's own familiar sulks grumpily on his shoulder.
The secret door opens revealing a dark stairwell.
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"I defer to your wisdom in the matter," Jessa replies, caring little for the cretinous goblin now that they've found the secret door. Instead, her eyes remain fixed on the opening, already wondering at what Thassilonian marvels might await on the other side.
Mitnal |
"I defer to your wisdom in the matter," Jessa replies, caring little for the cretinous goblin now that they've found the secret door. Instead, her eyes remain fixed on the opening, already wondering at what Thassilonian marvels might await on the other side.
Mitnal smiles at that. "Tie him tighter. His feet too. No need to be gentle. Gag him. I'll carry him."
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Maybe it's trapped and he just wants to lure us there?" Jessa suggests, "Or maybe it's a trick cell with an easy way out and he knows he can escape if we put him there? Or maybe he's nowhere near that crafty and just really fears it for some reason? I don't know."
"If you'd prefer, I could place a charm on him..." she offers, "Something to make him immediately friendly toward us. It would probably force him to tell us everything about this place. I was thinking I might need use that kind of enchantment on Lyrie or Orik or Nualia...if we ever run into them. But, it might be easier to affect this little guy than one of them."
DM Wicht |
Mitnal looks at the goblin suspiciously.
Sense motive:1d20+1
Mitnal:
Gyorgy Elberion |
Gyorgy Elberion wrote:I produce the stone from my pocket and cast light upon it once again."That won't last," says Mitnal with a smirk. "So, are you going first?"
"Oh, erm, well, erm... yeah, okay."
I draw my starknife and head down the stairs.
DM Wicht |
The steps turn to the right and then there is a stone door just around the corner from the steps. The door hangs slightly ajar, the detailed carvings that once covered its surface defaced by chisel marks and hammer blows to the extent that only a few remnants of images (mostly of gemstones and crowns) remain. The floor here is slanted slightly downwards toward the west. It is steep enough to notice, though not so bad as to affect standing or moving.
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Curious," Jessa comments from behind everyone, "Someone tried to deface this entrance. Crowns and gemstones? Perhaps, this once led to a place of importantance to the Thassilonian royalty? The floor looks a bit damaged as well, perhaps from the shifting of the island's bedrock over so many years?"
"You..." she gestures at the goblin captive, "What do you know of this place? Where does this go?"
Kenzo |
Kenzo grins, but moves ahead of Gyorgy, taking the lead down the stairs. Once down, he continues to place himself, spear in hand, between any new threats and the party.
"Curious," Jessa comments from behind everyone, "Someone tried to deface this entrance.
"Deface?" the young monk whispers before opening the door further, "Looks more like plain old looting to me."
Mitnal |
Kenzo wrote:"Deface?" the young monk whispers before opening the door further, "Looks more like plain old looting to me.""From an archaeological point of view, looting is defacement," she responds.
"Yes," says Mitnal sardonically, "I know how much those of Chelish descent frown upon the looting of ancient cultures."
Mitnal moves toward the door and brings his hammer out. He tests whether he could use his hammer to pull the door open wider. If he can, he will.
DM Wicht |
The door swings easily open.
The room on the other side is lit by a single lantern on the floor in the center of the room.
Two pillars support the ceiling in here. In many places the stone walls, floor, and ceiling are caked with ancient grime and soot. Alcoves in the north and south wall contain partially damaged statues of a man in robes clutching a book and a glaive. The entire room is canted toward the west, and whatever ancient upheaval caused the complex to tilt knocked the statues from their bases so that now they lean against the southern walls of their alcoves.
As they enter through the door, the group seems to hear the padding of soft feet and a low growl and then only silence.
There is a door on the far side of the room.
Mitnal |
The door swings easily open.
The room on the other side is lit by a single lantern on the floor in the center of the room.
Two pillars support the ceiling in here. In many places the stone walls, floor, and ceiling are caked with ancient grime and soot. Alcoves in the north and south wall contain partially damaged statues of a man in robes clutching a book and a glaive. The entire room is canted toward the west, and whatever ancient upheaval caused the complex to tilt knocked the statues from their bases so that now they lean against the southern walls of their alcoves.
As they enter through the door, the group seems to hear the padding of soft feet and a low growl and then only silence.
There is a door on the far side of the room.
"This doesn't seem right," says Mitnal.
Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Sounds like another one of those dogs," Jessa whispers, "Gyorgy? No running off this time! We'll need that wand of Lyrie's...and the Thassilonian one as well, I imagine."
Jessa's Perception check... 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Blackwing's Perception check... 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
So focused is she on warning her friends of the possible dangers that may lie ahead, that she and her raven aren't exactly paying attention to their surroundings all that well.
Gyorgy Elberion |
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide |
"Everyone stick close..." Jessa encourages, taking steps to ensure she stays in the middle of all the capable warriors in their band, "Shall we examine this room? I wonder who left that lantern there? And look at those statues! I'd love to take the time to examine them. I don't suppose...? No. Let's make sure we settle things with Nualia and then we can always come back..."
Mitnal |
The room seems empty and after a few seconds, you can almost convince yourself that what you heard was all in your head. The goblin seems a bit nervous. Still and all, nothing leaps out to attack anyone.
"Anyone have a problem with sending the goblin in first?" asks Mitnal, looking at Jeslara.
Gyorgy Elberion |
DM Wicht wrote:The room seems empty and after a few seconds, you can almost convince yourself that what you heard was all in your head. The goblin seems a bit nervous. Still and all, nothing leaps out to attack anyone."Anyone have a problem with sending the goblin in first?" asks Mitnal, looking at Jeslara.
I shrug: "No."